<p>I need an explanation on work studies for college. I am an incoming college freshman and I was awarded $1250 per semester by my college through the Federal Work Study program's financial aid. Now if they are giving me 1250 a semester does that mean I will be awarded 1250 no matter how many hours I work for my employer, or will they work it out so the 1250 will correspond to the number of hours I work or is there another way that they do it? Also, how exactly do I find a job that is eligible for the work study program, I assume that I can't just find any job on campus, but it has to meet certain criteria? And I have to wait until the start of the year and I'm on campus to get a work study job correct?</p>
<p>They’re not “giving” you $1250. They’re giving you the opportunity to earn up to $1250. You’ll be paid by the hour (minimum wage or more) for the actual hours you work. You won’t get the money upfront, you’ll get it after you’ve earned it (I think they have to pay you at least monthly but a lot of jobs pay more frequently than that). How you find the job depends on the school; you could look on the school website to see if there are job postings, or contact the school to find out the best way to go about finding an appropriate work study job.</p>
<p>Every campus has an employment center and they will indicate somehow which jobs qualify for WS, just ask the people in charge. Maybe it varies by school, but I think you have to get your WS job when you get to campus, I’d advise doing it quickly, as good jobs can go fast.</p>
<p>If you don’t work enough hours to earn the amount of WS alloted to you, you will essentially leave that money ‘sitting on the table’. It can be a little daunting to earn that much as a fr, I know my fr D left quite a bit unearned this past year. The goal this year will be to get a little higher paying job, work more hours and earn it all ;).</p>
<p>My advice is NOT to wait until you get on campus. Look for an employment page on the school’s web site. Many jobs post during the summer and you should apply early if possible as the best jobs may be gone by the time you arrive on campus. As stated by other poster’s you are not guaranteed anything. You have to find the job and work the hours to maximize your earnings. It is possible to earn more than the award but any amount earned beyond what was indicated is treated as normal income for FAFSA purposes on next years form.</p>
<p>Most jobs on campus are eligible for work-study. Employers like offering work-study jobs because a chunk of your paycheck comes from the government.</p>
<p>The amount on your financial aid represents the MAXIMUM you may earn through work-study. After that, your employer may allow you to continue working as a regular employee or you may have to stop.</p>